YORK headquartered train operator Grand Central has outlined a 12-year invest plan totalling £7.8 million to improve the reliability, capacity and comfort of its services.

As part of a series of roadshows at towns and cities along its routes, the company invited stakeholders to an event its York office, where bosses detailed how planned investment follows the company securing an extension of its operating licence between London, the North East and Yorkshire until 2026.

Grand Central will be expanding its busiest trains by 20 per cent, offering more seats to customers, and the trains will be refurbished to include leather seats in First Class and improvements to the reliability of on board facilities including power sockets, Wi-Fi and seating.

Richard McClean, managing director of Grand Central Rail, said: "We’ve listened to our passengers and the investments we’re making will improve the reliability of services as well as the comfort and reliability of our on-board facilities.

"We’re starting our investments early to get a head start on improvements for passengers, with a refurbishment to our current fleet due to begin in early 2015."

Grand Central Rail has signed a lease with Angel Trains for a further five Class 180 trains which, along with the company’s existing five Class 180 services will be seen on the rails from 2017.

The company has also pledged capital investment to improve passenger facilities at stations on its route.

Mr McClean added: "We want to build on our previous station investments, including increasing the capacity at Northallerton Station car park, by working with Network Rail, local authorities and station facility owners to make further improvements at the stations we serve."